Odd to win world cup

Creative forces: Croatia's Luka Modric (right) and Antoine Griezmann of France could hold the key to the World Cup final AFP/Pierre-Philippe MARCOU, Gabriel BOUYS France will also be spurred on by trying to put behind them the bitter disappointment of losing the Euro 2016 final to Portugal in Paris. It is a final few people anticipated when football's global showpiece kicked off four weeks ago. Croatia have brought joy to their Balkan nation of just four million people by defying the odds to progress to the final while reigning champions Germany, then Argentina and Brazil all fell by the wayside in Russia. They have been inspired by mercurial midfielder Luka Modric while coach Zlatko Dalic, who only took over last year with the squad in chaos, has coaxed remarkable performances from his team. Deschamps would become only the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager - he was captain when France lifted the World Cup in 1998. His France side, spearheaded by … [Read more...] about France and Croatia seek World Cup glory

Russia will try to keep their unlikely dream alive on Saturday (Jul 7) when the host nation face Croatia in their first World Cup quarter-final since 1970. Russia's perfomance has instilled belief in fans used to decades of World Cup disappointments AFP/Maxim ZMEYEV It has been an enchanted summer for the world's largest nation as it hosts the biggest event in sport. Russia's once-hapless team have suddenly turned into giantslayers who dispatched 2010 champions Spain in the last 16 and are now seriously contemplating reaching the Jul 15 final. The World Cup itself has been blissfully free of the hooligan battles and racist monkey chants that blighted Russian domestic league and international matches. And President Vladimir Putin has managed - if only briefly - to stem the tide of Western media criticism by presenting Russia as a fun-loving and welcoming place. "Many stereotypes about Russia have simply collapsed," Putin told a group of high-profile former players at a Kremlin … [Read more...] about Russia try to keep World Cup dream alive after miracle win

Spain captain Sergio Ramos and new coach Fernando Hierro displayed a united front as they looked ahead to Friday's World Cup opener against Cristiano Ronaldo's European champions Portugal following an extraordinary 48 hours. Fernando Hierro and Sergio Ramos show a united front in Sochi ahead of Spain's World Cup opener. (Odd ANDERSEN/AFP) Hierro and Ramos posed together, smiling for the cameras, at a press conference inside the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, the venue for the Group B clash between the Iberian neighbours. Coming into this World Cup, Spain had been seen as one of the outstanding favourites to lift the trophy in Russia after a two-year unbeaten run under Julen Lopetegui. But Wednesday's sensational decision by the Spanish Football Federation to sack Lopetegui, in response to the announcement he would take over at Real Madrid after the tournament, has threatened to derail their chances. Suddenly Hierro - a great former Real and Spain defender but a man with … [Read more...] about World Cup: Spain ‘united’ ahead of clash with Ronaldo’s Portugal

Egypt's Mohamed Salah is "confident" of being fit for the World Cup despite suffering a shoulder injury in Liverpool's Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid. Mohamed Salah is confident of making the World Cup after his shoulder injury. (Photo: AFP/Paul Ellis) Salah was forced off in tears during the first half of the 3-1 loss in Kiev on Saturday, sparking fears he wouldn't make it to next month's World Cup. The 25-year-old sustained the problem when he was dragged awkwardly to the turf following a challenge with Sergio Ramos, leading some to claim the Madrid defender had deliberately tried to injure Liverpool's star forward. Speaking after the final, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had described the injury as "serious" amid fears Salah had suffered a dislocated shoulder. That would have ruled him out of Egypt's first appearance in the World Cup since 1990. Salah was pictured with his shoulder in a sling when he got off Liverpool's plane at John Lennon Airport on … [Read more...] about Salah ‘confident’ for World Cup despite shoulder injury